A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to increase rates for foster care and appropriate funds for that purpose.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.(a)  G.S. 108A‑49.1 reads as rewritten:
"§ 108A‑49.1.  Foster care and adoption assistance payment rates.
(a)	The maximum rates for State participation in the foster care assistance program are established on a graduated scale as follows:
(1)	$514.00 per child per month for children from birth through five years of age.
(2)	$654.00 per child per month for children six through 12 years of age.
(3)	$698.00 per child per month for children at least 13 but less than 21 years of age.
(b)	The maximum rates for the State adoption assistance program are established consistent with the foster care rates as follows:
(1)	$514.00 per child per month for children from birth through five years of age.
(2)	$654.00 per child per month for children six through 12 years of age.
(3)	$698.00 per child per month for children at least 13 but less than 21 years of age.
…."
SECTION 1.(b)  G.S. 108A‑49.1, as amended by subsection (a) of this section, reads as rewritten:
"§ 108A‑49.1.  Foster care and adoption assistance payment rates.
(a)	The maximum rates for State participation in the foster care assistance program are established on a graduated scale as follows:
(1)	$553.00 per child per month for children from birth through five years of age.
(2)	$727.00 per child per month for children six through 12 years of age.
(3)	$761.00 per child per month for children at least 13 but less than 21 years of age.
(b)	The maximum rates for the State adoption assistance program are established consistent with the foster care rates as follows:
(1)	$553.00 per child per month for children from birth through five years of age.
(2)	$727.00 per child per month for children six through 12 years of age.
(3)	$761.00 per child per month for children at least 13 but less than 21 years of age.
…."
SECTION 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Social Services, the sum of six million eight hundred sixty‑eight thousand seven hundred fifty‑eight dollars ($6,868,758) for the 2020‑2021 fiscal year to implement the foster care and adoption rate increases provided for in this act.
SECTION 3.  Section 1(a) of this act becomes effective July 1, 2020. Section 1(b) of this act becomes effective July 1, 2021. Section 2 of this act becomes effective July 1, 2019. The remainder of this act is effective when it becomes law.